Mansfield campus College Republicans students attend political conference

Mansfield, OH - “If you pay taxes, you should care about politics,” says the president of the Mansfield Campus College Republicans student organization, Jake Clark. The group attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland on Thursday, February 22 through Saturday, February 24, 2018.

CPAC is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States. The students from The Ohio State University at Mansfield and North Central State College had the opportunity to hear speakers including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Senators Ted Cruz and Rob Portman. In addition, students attended education sessions throughout the three-day conference.

Dan Wallrabenstein, a North Central State College student and member of the Campus College Republicans, attended the conference. He says, “I honestly think that the experience overall was mind-blowing.” He continues, “I will use the knowledge I obtained from the conference in the way it was meant to be used, in constructive political debate to ensure problems get solved.”

Students raised money to go on the trip by holding bake sales and selling coupon book sales. The students were also especially grateful to individuals in the Mansfield community who, when they learned that the students wanted to attend, generously volunteered support to help defray the cost of the trip. The students who attended the conference are Jake Clark, Timothy Gesouras, Austin Stewart and Dan Wallrabenstein.

Sid Hall, a community member who mentors the student organization, says the students learned a great deal about the world of politics at the CPAC event. He says, “The students got a new perspective on some of the issues of the day. They enjoyed meeting individuals who are on the national scene.”

As for how many future politicians will sprout from the Mansfield Campus College Republicans student organization, we will have to wait and see. Wallrabenstein proudly explains, “I can see myself in politics, but right now, I want to get my schooling done before I have any consideration for a seat in a political office.”

For more information on the College Republicans, the work they have done, and their attendance at the CPAC, please contact Advisor Tammy Smith at smith.173@osu.edu or 419-755-4312.